When is LASIK Not the Best Option?

LASIK has become such a common procedure that it comes as a surprise to many people that it isn’t always the best option. While complications are rare, there are some risks involved. LASIK simply is not for everyone. In some instances, the potential complications outweigh the benefits.

In this post, we will go through those instances when this procedure is not the best option.

Those Aged 18 or Under

During our younger years, our eyesight can change radically. It takes a few years to stabilize completely. Having the surgery done while your eyesight is still changing is problematic. The surgery will not prevent the further deterioration of the sight.

So, if you’re not careful, you could end up in a situation where you have the surgery, and then the eyesight deteriorates later anyway.

That’s why it is important not to consider the surgery if you are 18 or under. Your ophthalmologist will need to examine you carefully beforehand to ensure that the eyesight has indeed stabilized. There can still be changes even after the age of 18.

Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women

Pregnancy and breastfeeding cause a surge of hormones to flood the body. As a result, the eyesight might change as well. This is only a temporary change, though. When the baby is weaned, the hormone levels return to normal and so does the sight.

For that reason, it is not a good idea to consider eye surgery during this time period.

Those With a Thinner than Normal Cornea Wall

Part of the treatment to correct vision entails removing small bits of the cornea wall. If your cornea wall is thinner than normal, this is not going to be possible.

Those With Flatter or Steep Corneas

Another technique used is to cut a flap in the cornea wall and then reshape the cornea by lifting it. If the curvature is not correct, the flap will not be the right size to do any good.

People Who Play Contact Sports

If you’re a boxer, for example, this treatment is not going to be for you. Repeated blows to your head and face can have a significant impact on your vision. These changes might render the improvements made by surgery void.

Those With an Eye Disease

It’s a bit of a pain, but you need to have healthy eyes for this to work as well as it should. There are several conditions, like glaucoma, that make surgery unwise.

You Must be Fairly Healthy

If you have a problem with an immune system that has been compromised or some condition that makes healing slower, this is not the treatment for you. If you have Diabetes, for example, healing will take a lot longer, and the results may not be as predictable as you’d like.

Those who suffer from conditions where chronic pain is an issue may find that they experience high levels of pain after the surgery.

Conclusion

As much as you may want to ditch your glasses or contacts, not everyone is a good candidate. Do be sure to let your ophthalmologist know what medical conditions you suffer from to get the right advice in this regard. happen when she finds